Larry Smith (basketball)
Encyclopedia
Larry Smith is a former American
professional basketball
player. A 6'8" forward/center from Alcorn State University
, Smith spent 13 seasons (1980–1993) in the National Basketball Association
(NBA), playing for the Golden State Warriors
, Houston Rockets
, and San Antonio Spurs
. Smith received NBA All-Rookie Team
Honors in 1981, and would become one of the best rebounders of the 1980s. He had career averages of 9.2 rebounds and 25.9 minutes per game.
He worked as an assistant coach for Rudy Tomjanovich
with the Rockets from 1993 until 2002, helping them capture their back-to-back NBA titles in 1993-94
and 1994-95. After ten years with the Rockets, Smith was hired as the assistant coach for the Atlanta Hawks
in 2003. In 2004, he was hired by the Los Angeles Lakers
to be the assistant coach for Tomjanovich. However, Tomjanovich was fired during the 2004–05 season. Smith remained as an assistant coach for interim head coach Frank Hamblen
until the end of the season.
After serving as an assistant coach of the Albuquerque Thunderbirds
, as the head coach of the Anaheim Arsenal
, and as an assistant coach for the Austin Toros
in the NBA D-League
, Smith was hired to be an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Sparks
of the Women's National Basketball Association
(WNBA) for the 2008 season.
On May 8, 2008, officials made the announcement during a news conference in Vicksburg, Mississippi that Smith has been named as the head basketball coach for Alcorn State University
. In 2011, Smith was moved from this position to become director of athletic development for the school.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player. A 6'8" forward/center from Alcorn State University
Alcorn State University
Alcorn State University is an historically black university comprehensive land-grant institution in Lorman, Mississippi. It was founded in 1871-History:...
, Smith spent 13 seasons (1980–1993) in the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
(NBA), playing for the Golden State Warriors
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. They are part of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
, and San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....
. Smith received NBA All-Rookie Team
NBA All-Rookie Team
The NBA All-Rookie Team is an annual National Basketball Association honor given since the 1962–63 NBA season to the top rookies during the regular season. Voting is conducted by the NBA head coaches; who are not allowed to vote for players on their own team. The All-Rookie Team is generally...
Honors in 1981, and would become one of the best rebounders of the 1980s. He had career averages of 9.2 rebounds and 25.9 minutes per game.
He worked as an assistant coach for Rudy Tomjanovich
Rudy Tomjanovich
Rudolph Tomjanovich, Jr. , nicknamed Rudy T., is an American retired basketball player and coach who coached the Houston Rockets to two consecutive NBA championships. He is currently a scout for the Los Angeles Lakers.-Early life:...
with the Rockets from 1993 until 2002, helping them capture their back-to-back NBA titles in 1993-94
1993-94 NBA season
-Statistics leaders:-NBA awards:*Most Valuable Player: Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets*Rookie of the Year: Chris Webber, Golden State Warriors*Defensive Player of the Year: Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets...
and 1994-95. After ten years with the Rockets, Smith was hired as the assistant coach for the Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
in 2003. In 2004, he was hired by the Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
to be the assistant coach for Tomjanovich. However, Tomjanovich was fired during the 2004–05 season. Smith remained as an assistant coach for interim head coach Frank Hamblen
Frank Hamblen
Frank Hamblen is a National Basketball Association coach and scout, and a former college basketball player at Syracuse University. He has served as an interim head coach for two different teams; for the Milwaukee Bucks in 1992 and the Los Angeles Lakers in 2005...
until the end of the season.
After serving as an assistant coach of the Albuquerque Thunderbirds
Albuquerque Thunderbirds
The New Mexico Thunderbirds were a professional NBA Development League minor league basketball team which played from 2005-2011. Based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the Thunderbirds first played their home games at Tingley Coliseum as the Albuquerque Thunderbirds, then played at the Santa Ana Star...
, as the head coach of the Anaheim Arsenal
Anaheim Arsenal
The Anaheim Arsenal was a professional basketball team which played in NBA Development League from 2006-2009. They played their home games at the Anaheim Convention Center, in Anaheim, California....
, and as an assistant coach for the Austin Toros
Austin Toros
The Austin Toros are a NBA Development League minor league basketball team based in Cedar Park, Texas, United States.The team plays home games at Cedar Park Center.Their logo is the design of a bull and basketball with the state of Texas in the background...
in the NBA D-League
NBA Development League
The NBA Development League, or NBA D-League, is the National Basketball Association's official minor league basketball organization. Known until summer 2005 as the National Basketball Development League , the NBA D-League started with eight teams in the fall of 2001...
, Smith was hired to be an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Sparks
Los Angeles Sparks
The Los Angeles Sparks is a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began...
of the Women's National Basketball Association
Women's National Basketball Association
The Women's National Basketball Association is a women's professional basketball league in the United States. It currently is composed of twelve teams. The league was founded on April 24, 1996 as the women's counterpart to the National Basketball Association...
(WNBA) for the 2008 season.
On May 8, 2008, officials made the announcement during a news conference in Vicksburg, Mississippi that Smith has been named as the head basketball coach for Alcorn State University
Alcorn State University
Alcorn State University is an historically black university comprehensive land-grant institution in Lorman, Mississippi. It was founded in 1871-History:...
. In 2011, Smith was moved from this position to become director of athletic development for the school.
See also
- List of National Basketball Association players with most rebounds in a game
- List of NCAA Division I men's basketball season rebounding leaders
External links
- Larry Smith Coach Profile at NBA.com
- Larry Smith NBA Statistics at Basketball-Reference.com
- Larry Smith College Basketball Statistics at Sports-Reference.com
- Larry Smith College Basketball Coaching Record at Sports-Reference.com